Stakeholders have reiterated the importance of prioritising children’s education as a strategic tool for tackling street begging, reducing the number of out-of-school children, and curbing insecurity in Nigeria.
This formed a major part of speeches made at the graduation, speech, and prize-giving ceremony of Al-Ihsan Balsuma Academy, a subdivision of the Al-Ihsan Charity Organisation and Orphanage Home, held in Nasarawa, Kaduna State.
At the event, the chairman of the Association of Orphanages and Home Operators in Nigeria (ASOHON), Kaduna State chapter, Mr Ahmed Hassan Adam, underscored the urgent need for the government and private sector actors to support orphanage home operators in addressing the pressing challenges confronting vulnerable children.
According to him, the school grapples with several challenges including inadequate accommodation, poor infrastructure, limited feeding resources, and a lack of basic facilities critical for quality learning and child development.
He said, “If we are serious about ending insecurity and societal decay, we must invest in education, particularly for the less privileged. These children are the future, and neglecting them is dangerous for our national security.”
In his remarks, chairman of the occasion and a prominent supporter of the orphanage, Comrade Mohammad Adamu Adangba, congratulated the graduating students and reminded them that education remains a powerful tool for personal and national transformation.
“You may have started this journey with uncertainty, but today you walk forward with knowledge in your minds and dreams in your hearts. Never stop learning. Through faith, hard work, and good character, you can overcome every obstacle,” he said.
Also speaking at the event, traditional leaders including the Hakimin Gundumar Gwagwada, Alhaji Shitu Abdullahi, represented by Alhaji Abubakar, Sarkin Samarin Gwagwada, and Alhaji Khalid Idris, Sarkin Sabon Garin Nasarawa, commended the students for their academic and moral excellence. They urged the pupils to utilise their education in contributing positively to society.
Some of the students, including Sadia Umar and Saidu Abubakar, expressed mixed feelings, while appreciating the opportunity to acquire knowledge, they however highlighted the school’s infrastructural deficiencies. They appealed for public support in expanding classroom blocks and upgrading the institution to a senior secondary level.
Home operators in attendance, including Khadija Sani Abubakar and Reverend Comfort Idialor, also advocated greater support for orphanages, noting that they house many untapped talents that can contribute significantly to national development if nurtured properly.
“The children under our care deserve the same opportunities as others. With collective effort, we can give them hope and a better future,” said Idialor.
A total of 220 students across primary and junior secondary levels participated in the graduation ceremony, which featured cultural performances, drama, and professional displays by the students.
Earlier, the stakeholders urged teachers, caregivers, and supporters of Al-Ihsan to continue nurturing the young ones with discipline, love, and a strong emphasis on both education and moral values.
